This article presents a physics-informed deep learning method for the quantitative estimation of the spatial coordinates of gamma interactions within a monolithic scintillator, with a focus on ...Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. A Density Neural Network approach is designed to estimate the 2-dimensional gamma photon interaction coordinates in a fast lead tungstate (PbWO4) monolithic scintillator detector. We introduce a custom loss function to estimate the inherent uncertainties associated with the reconstruction process and to incorporate the physical constraints of the detector.
This unique combination allows for more robust and reliable position estimations and the obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and highlights the significant benefits of the uncertainties estimation. We discuss its potential impact on improving PET imaging quality and show how the results can be used to improve the exploitation of the model, to bring benefits to the application and how to evaluate the validity of the given prediction and the associated uncertainties. Importantly, our proposed methodology extends beyond this specific use case, as it can be generalized to other applications beyond PET imaging.
Gadolinium nanoparticles (NP) could be used for tumors radiosensitization. Indeed, it has been demonstrated on simulations that when the X-ray beam hits densely packed NPs, the photoelectric effect ...increases, leading to the emission of additional electrons depositing their energy more locally 1. The quantification of NP concentration is a crucial task for radiotherapy treatment as this will define the delivered dose. Image based quantification could be done, for example, on spectral photon counting CT (SPCCT) for Gd detection or single photon emission CT (SPECT) for detection of NPs coupled with In-111 tracer.
This presentation is focused on Gd-NP quantification on phantoms with nanoSPECT/CT scanner. We compare these preliminary results to the SPCCT measurements and outline the pros and cons of each modality for quantification tasks. We will also show the very first preclinical images.
For the image quantification we use eight 500 μl tubes filled with saline solution with different concentrations of Gd-nanoparticles coupled with In-111. We obtain radioactivity concentration distribution with nanoSPECT/CT (Bioscan Inc., Washington D.C., USA) images calibrated with a gamma counter. These quantification measurements are compared to results from SPCCT (Philips Healthcare, Haifa, Israel).
The first preclinical test is done on the same machines. We scan 5 animals with chondrosarcomas 1 h, 2 h and 24 h post injection.
The preliminary results show that activities above 1 MBq could be observed on nanoSPECT/CT images and that the discrepancy between quantification activity measurements and gamma counter ground values is ∼10–20%. Such a large disagreement could be due to several factors that has not yet been corrected: attenuation, scattering, collimator detector response, motion, dead time, kinetic of the activity distribution, partial volume effect (spill-in/spill-out) etc. We illustrate importance of the last one in the bias of quantified measurements.
The quantification of Gd nanoparticles is possible with SPECT and SPCCT imaging. The preliminary results obtained in phantoms show the linear correspondence between the concentration of nanoparticles in SPCCT images and activity concentration in SPECT images.
The T2K long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment in Japan needs precise predictions of the initial neutrino flux. The highest precision can be reached based on detailed measurements of hadron ...emission from the same target as used by T2K exposed to a proton beam of the same kinetic energy of 30GeV. The corresponding data were recorded in 2007–2010 by the NA61/SHINE experiment at the CERN SPS using a replica of the T2K graphite target. In this paper details of the experiment, data taking, data analysis method and results from the 2007 pilot run are presented. Furthermore, the application of the NA61/SHINE measurements to the predictions of the T2K initial neutrino flux is described and discussed.
The first observation of the decays Λb0→χc 1p K- and Λb0→χc 2p K- is reported using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb-1, collected by the LHCb experiment in p p ...collisions at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. The following ratios of branching fractions are measured: B/(Λb0→χc 1p K-) B (Λb0→J /ψ p K-) =0.242 ±0.014 ±0.013 ±0.009 ,B/(Λb0→χc 2p K-) B (Λb0→J /ψ p K-) =0.248 ±0.020 ±0.014 ±0.009 ,B/(Λb0→χc 2p K-) B (Λb0→χc 1p K-) =1.02 ±0.10 ±0.02 ±0.05 , where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second systematic, and the third due to the uncertainty on the branching fractions of the χc 1→J /ψ γ and χc 2→J /ψ γ decays. Using both decay modes, the mass of the Λb0 baryon is also measured to be mΛb0=5619.44 ±0.28 ±0.26 MeV /c2 , where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
The CP asymmetry in the mixing of B0s and B̅0s mesons is measured in proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb−1, recorded by the LHCb experiment at ...centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Semileptonic B0s and B̅0s decays are studied in the inclusive mode D∓sμ±νμX with the D∓s mesons reconstructed in the K+K−π∓ final state. Correcting the observed charge asymmetry for detection and background effects, the CP asymmetry is found to be assl=(0.39±0.26±0.20)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the most precise measurement of assl to date, and is consistent with the prediction from the Standard Model of particle physics.
The polarization of photons produced in radiative B-s(0) decays is studied for the first time. The data are recorded by the LHCb experiment in pp collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity ...of 3 fb(-1) at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. A time-dependent analysis of the B-s(0) ->phi gamma decay rate is conducted to determine the parameter A(Delta), which is related to the ratio of right-over left-handed photon polarization amplitudes in b -> s gamma transitions. A value of A(Delta) = -0.98(-0.52)(-0.20)(+0.46)(+0.23) is measured. This result is consistent with the standard model prediction within 2 standard deviations.
A time-dependent angular analysis of B0s→ψ(2S)ϕ decays is performed using data recorded by the LHCb experiment. The data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 3.0\invfb collected during Run ...1 of the LHC. The CP-violating phase and decay-width difference of the B0s system are measured to be ϕs=0.23+0.29−0.28±0.02 rad and ΔΓs=0.066+0.041−0.044±0.007 ps−1, respectively, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. This is the first time that ϕs and ΔΓs have been measured in a decay containing the ψ(2S) resonance.
The data sample of Λ0b→J/ψpK− decays acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8~TeV pp collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb−1, is inspected for the presence of J/ψp or ...J/ψK− contributions with minimal assumptions about K−p contributions. It is demonstrated at more than 9 standard deviations that Λ0b→J/ψpK− decays cannot be described with K−p contributions alone, and that J/ψp contributions play a dominant role in this incompatibility. These model-independent results support the previously obtained model-dependent evidence for P+c→J/ψp charmonium-pentaquark states in the same data sample.
Production cross-sections of prompt charm mesons are measured with the first data from $pp$ collisions at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of $13\,\mathrm{TeV}$. The data sample corresponds to an ...integrated luminosity of $4.98 \pm 0.19\,\mathrm{pb}^{-1}$ collected by the LHCb experiment. The production cross-sections of $D^{0}$, $D^{+}$, $D_{s}^{+}$, and $D^{*+}$ mesons are measured in bins of charm meson transverse momentum, $p_{\mathrm{T}}$, and rapidity, $y$, and cover the range $0 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 15\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$ and $2.0 < y < 4.5$. The ratios of the integrated cross-sections between charm mesons agree with previously measured fragmentation fractions. The inclusive $c\overline{c}$ cross-section within the range of $0 < p_{\mathrm{T}} < 8\,\mathrm{GeV}/c$ is found to be \ \sigma(pp \to c\overline{c}X) = 2940 \pm 3 \pm 180 \pm 160\,\mu\mathrm{b} \ where the uncertainties are due to statistical, systematic and fragmentation fraction uncertainties, respectively.
The $B_s^0 \rightarrow J/\psi \phi \phi$ decay is observed in $pp$ collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb detector at centre-of-mass energies of ...7 TeV and 8 TeV. This is the first observation of this decay channel, with a statistical significance of 15 standard deviations. The mass of the $B_s^0$ meson is measured to be $5367.08\,\pm \,0.38\,\pm\, 0.15$ MeV/c$^2$. The branching fraction ratio $\mathcal{B}(B_s^0 \rightarrow J/\psi \phi \phi)/\mathcal{B}(B_s^0 \rightarrow J/\psi \phi)$ is measured to be $0.0115\,\pm\, 0.0012\, ^{+0.0005}_{-0.0009}$. In both cases, the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. No evidence for non-resonant $B_s^0 \rightarrow J/\psi \phi K^+ K^-$ or $B_s^0 \rightarrow J/\psi K^+ K^- K^+ K^-$ decays is found.
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